PWE – Chapter 87 The man across from her is the one she wants to marry.

Her power had been sealed by more than half, so right now she simply couldn’t instantly travel to Zhan Zeyan’s military unit.

She could undo her own seal.

But if she did, she would break the promise she made back then.

And once she broke that promise, she would suffer heavenly punishment.

That kind of punishment was a torment ordinary people couldn’t even imagine. It was possible she would fall into a deep sleep—hundreds or even thousands of years long.

So she couldn’t take that risk. She absolutely could not undo her seal privately at a time like this.

If she were punished and fell into that long sleep, then what would happen to Zhao Zhao?

Both the village chief and branch secretary were right.

She was Zhao Zhao’s only support now. She couldn’t afford to have anything happen to her. If she fell too… then Zhao Zhao would have no one left to take care of him.

Standing by the stove lost in thought for several minutes, she suddenly drew in a sharp breath and stepped out of the kitchen.

She believed Zhan Zeyan wasn’t dead.

She suspected that Zhan Zeyan must have gone on some kind of special mission. And that mission required him to fake his death. He had probably pretended to die and gone somewhere else, and once the mission was over, he would come back.

…

Xiao Wange didn’t want Zhao Zhao to know about the news, so she kept it tightly hidden.

Only…

That morning, on her way back from the market in town with Zhao Zhao, they ran into Zhan Hongxin at the village entrance.

Zhan Hongxin had now been tormented to the point of being unrecognizable. Although her body wasn’t thinner and was still the same as before, her face looked haggard, and her hair had been cut off. The long hair she once had was now cropped into a buzz cut. If she weren’t wearing women’s clothing, one might have thought she was a man at first glance.

Following beside her was Hu Laizi. He had taken her to visit relatives that morning, and now they were returning.

The moment she saw Xiao Wange, Zhan Hongxin’s gaze dimmed and deep resentment instantly surged across her face.

She stared at Xiao Wange, then suddenly gritted her teeth and mocked, “Xiao Wange, I heard Zhan Zeyan is dead? Heard he was shot to death during a mission? What a pity, really. He was so young—how did he die just like that? Now that he’s dead, doesn’t that make you… a widow?”

Xiao Wange’s fingers tightened. Her expression darkened. She lifted her foot, flicking a pebble that shot directly into Zhan Hongxin’s knee.

Zhan Hongxin felt as if her knee had been pierced by a blade; her leg went soft, and she fell to her knees uncontrollably.

Xiao Wange looked down at her. “Nothing good ever comes out of a dog’s mouth! Zhan Hongxin, if you dare spout nonsense again, I’ll cripple your leg.”

When she spoke, a chilling aura radiated from her entire body—so frightening that Hu Laizi was startled.

Hu Laizi felt a faint shiver. Why did Xiao Wange look like a god of death crawling out of hell? Why was she so terrifying?

He hurried to pull Zhan Hongxin up, glaring at her. “Can’t you stop causing trouble for even one day? If you stir up trouble again, believe it or not, I’ll beat you to death when we get home!”

He knew Xiao Wange had connections with the biggest factory owner in the county. If she got angry and asked that boss to deal with Zhan Hongxin, what would they do? If the boss took out his anger on their Hu family, things would be even worse.

So—Xiao Wange must never be offended!

Zhan Hongxin ground her teeth viciously.

Her resentment deepened, and she glared at Hu Laizi. “Who caused trouble? Did I say anything wrong? Zhan Zeyan is dead—he died a few days ago! If he’s dead, and Xiao Wange has no husband, isn’t she a widow? I’m actually pitying her. So young, and already without a husband!”

She spoke of pity, but her tone dripped with gloating.

Then she turned toward Zhan Jinzhao. “Ah, Zhao Zhao, you’re so pitiful too. You’re still so little, and your father is dead. How will you live from now on?”

Zhao Zhao clutched his mother’s clothes tightly.

His lips pressed hard together, and suddenly he shouted, “You’re lying! My dad isn’t dead! My dad is super amazing—he could never die! Aunt Hongxin, you’re lying!”

“Who’s lying to you? Lots of people in the village already know! I bet your stepmom Xiao Wange knows too. Zhao Zhao, actually you and your stepmom—ah!”

She didn’t finish before her knees hit the ground again.

Xiao Wange had suddenly rushed forward, looming over her. “Zhan Hongxin, it seems you really want me to cripple you, don’t you?!”

Zhan Hongxin felt her knees splitting apart—like they were being chopped in half. Cold sweat immediately covered her face.

Xiao Wange hadn’t held back this time. She had already warned her. Since she refused to listen, she had no one to blame.

“You… you bitch!” Zhan Hongxin cursed through clenched teeth.

Xiao Wange snorted coldly, eyes icy, ready to strike again.

But Hu Laizi slapped Zhan Hongxin hard across the face.

“Zhan Hongxin, you damned woman! You want trouble, don’t you? I ought to beat you to death today!”

Afraid Xiao Wange would complain to the county boss, he hurried to discipline Zhan Hongxin himself before Xiao Wange did.

He slapped her several more times, and her face quickly swelled red.

Just then, a flashy car drove toward them.

Seeing the car, Zhan Hongxin’s pupils shrank. She covered her swollen face, wanting to flee, but when she saw who was in the car, she froze.

The car stopped right beside Zhao Zhao.

Mu Yunhao opened the door and rushed out.

Seeing Zhao Zhao’s reddened eyes, he quickly scooped him up. “Zhao Zhao, what’s wrong?”

He held the child and gently rubbed his back.

Zhao Zhao’s small mouth trembled. He glanced at Zhan Hongxin, then looked at Mu Yunhao with grievance. “Uncle Mu, Aunt Hongxin said my dad died. She said my dad was shot.”

Then tears burst out again.

There were two more people in the car—Shi Jinshu and Taotao.

Shi Jinshu got out with Taotao. After glancing at Zhao Zhao, she turned toward Zhan Hongxin. “You said Zhao Zhao’s father died? How could you say something like that?”

She recognized Zhan Hongxin—she knew all the Zhan family.

No matter what, you shouldn’t say such things in front of a child. Even if it were true, you shouldn’t. Children’s hearts are fragile—what if you hurt him?

Zhan Hongxin opened her mouth to insist Zhan Zeyan was dead.

But seeing Mu Yunhao, she swallowed her words.

She didn’t want him to think she was vicious.

She looked at him once, then struggled to stand.

Hu Laizi looked at the flashy car, then at Mu Yunhao holding Zhao Zhao, and guessed he must be the famous county factory boss.

Terrified of offending him, he tugged at Zhan Hongxin to drag her away.

But she refused to move.

That was the man she wanted to marry. If that charm had landed on him back then, she would now be the young madam of the Mu family.

She was unwilling—deeply unwilling.

She could have lived a good life. She could have been the Mu family’s young madam.

But now—everything had become like this.

And it was all Xiao Wange’s fault. That vile woman had ruined her!

She shot Xiao Wange a hateful glare.

Hu Laizi, seeing she still wouldn’t leave, slapped her again. “Get back home, you wretched woman! Do you want to embarrass yourself even more? Move!”

Her beloved man stood across from her, yet she was being slapped around by an ugly brute. Zhan Hongxin felt utterly humiliated.

But staring at Mu Yunhao, she still held a faint hope.

Maybe he would speak up for her. Maybe… he would stop Hu Laizi.

But—

Reality disappointed her.

Mu Yunhao only gave her a faint glance, then lowered his head to comfort Zhao Zhao.

He coaxed Zhao Zhao as gently as if the boy were his own child.

She grit her teeth and felt a surge of jealousy—even toward a child.

Why could Zhao Zhao receive such tenderness while she couldn’t? Why were people so cruel to her?

She hated them. She hated them all.

But regardless of her hatred, Hu Laizi dragged her home and slapped her several more times—because she had tried to stir trouble, and such a woman needed discipline.

…

“Comrade Xiao, come. I’ll take you home,” Mu Yunhao said softly to Xiao Wange.

The village entrance was still a distance from her house, and walking would take a while.

Besides, now that Mu Yunhao and Shi Jinshu had shown up, she couldn’t just send them away.

So Xiao Wange nodded. “Alright.”

She walked over and took Zhao Zhao from his arms.

Zhao Zhao’s tears had stopped, but he still looked devastated as he asked, “Mom, is Dad really dead? Was he really… shot?”

His mouth trembled again, on the verge of crying.

Xiao Wange patted his head gently. Her eyes were soft. “No. Your father is the strongest man in the world—how could he die? He’s fine. He’s just on a mission right now and can’t call us. When he finishes in a few days, we’ll call him, okay?”

Zhao Zhao nodded. “Okay.”

Mu Yunhao, however, subtly frowned.

She was probably lying to Zhao Zhao.

Zhan Zeyan… might truly be gone.

If he really had sacrificed himself… then did that mean he had a chance?

He knew the thought was selfish, but both Xiao Wange and Zhao Zhao would need a man to take care of them, wouldn’t they?